Startups Decoded #48: We Need To Scale Angel Investing — with Cheryl Kellond, Play Money.
Startup investing used to be gated, exclusive networks, complex diligence, and full-time fund managers. But what if anyone could build a startup portfolio the same way they’d shop online?
In this episode, Cheryl Kellond, serial founder and CEO of Play Money, shares how her platform is democratizing early-stage investing by pairing curated deals from new fund managers with an experience that feels more like shopping than finance.
We dive into her journey from launching Bia Sport and Apostrophe (acquired by Centivo) to building Play Money, the new “fantasy league” for startup investing.
Expect a candid lesson on why making startup capital more inclusive can reshape who gets funded and who gets to build wealth.
Chapters
- 00:00 Introduction to Play Money and Its Mission
- 04:37 The Challenges of Accessing Capital
- 11:21 The Evolution of Early Stage Investing
- 16:59 Understanding the Angel Investment Landscape
- 22:30 The Role of Education in Angel Investing
- 28:20 The Founder Experience on Play Money
- 33:49 Building Trust and Validation in Startups
- 39:27 The Future Vision for Play Money
Founder & CEO of Play Money, is a concept-to-launch expert who has driven $750M+ in revenue from healthtech, SaaS, hardware, and media products. She previously founded Apostrophe (Techstars ’17, acquired by Centivo) and Bia Sport (Lemnos ’12), and has launched major products at Adobe, Yahoo, and E*TRADE. Voted Denver’s Most Admired CEO and a 40 Over 40 honoree, she’s passionate about disrupting legacy industries and building founder-friendly ecosystems.
Who Should Listen
- Aspiring angel investors who want a smarter, accessible entry point
- Founders curious about new funding pathways
- Emerging fund managers building their first LP base
- Anyone interested in wealth-building through startups without “full-time VC” complexity
Music Credit
- “Neptuno” – Phondupe (Album: Onykia)
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